"The Instagram of Auschwitz films"

Hanka's Tattoo

“You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves."

Hanka’s Tattoo is the story of Steve, a New York physician, trying to make sense of the atrocities suffered by his mother in Auschwitz.

Hanka's children and grandchildren share stories and explore how Hanka's tattoo molded who they are today and shaped their own families.

Hanka wore a band-aid over her tattoo, didn't want to talk about it, and her grandchildren; “never really saw it”. She only shared her experiences with her family because she said "no one would really understand".

The Jewish Religion prohibits and discourages tattooing. Many Rabbis will not bury someone in a Jewish cemetery if they have a tattoo. Holocaust survivors are the exception because the tattoo was forced upon them.

Number A14978 was branded on Hanka Fruchtman during World War II.

In spite of his religion, Hanka's son Steve gets his mothers tattoo and so do his children.

A historic story told in a new way by a younger generation.

Screening Photos

Olympia Dukakis screens with Elaine Vedette and the cast of Hanka’s Tattoo at the Big Apple Film Festival October 2015

Elaine Vedette Tack, Filmaker

Contact

Elaine Vedette Tack

T: +1 561 400 3333E: Elainevedette@aol.com

Elaine Vedette Tack

Elaine had a 14 year career in broadcast journalism reporting the news. She is not only passionate about story telling , her background and training also includes video production, photography and editing. Elaine graduated with a BA, specializing in Communications, from the University of Denver.

Elaine creates short “out of the box” films for philanthropic and business organizations. Hanka’s Tattoo is her first, longer format Documentary.

Someone asked me: “Why is a nice Jewish girl like you, making a movie like this?”

I replied: “ I am not Jewish”.

He continued: “Then why did you make this movie?”.

I told him: “You don't have to be Jewish to tell a Jewish story, or black to tell a black story, or green to tell a martian’s story, you only need to be a really good story teller.”